Namesake by Adrienne Young is the followup, and second in the trilogy, to Fable in the same-named series. This book is one word: amazing!

I absolutely loved every moment of Fable, and this second book did not disappoint. It lived up to everything its predecessor created.

This book starts immediately where the previous finishing upon that tall and windy place called a cliffhanger. Here, Fable wakes up on Zola’s ship after being kidnapped. Without spoiling the plot for the reader, we see all of the questions and surprises from the previous book answered within this story, and the author adds in plenty of new twists and turns to keep the reader entertained, enthralled, and begging for more.

I love Fable so much. She is smart, independent (yet her need for acceptance, family, love, and a home to be a part of is still present, fiery, and brave. She is imperfect, but yet strives to make things right. I enjoyed following along as she, West, the crew of the Marigold, Koy, Clove, and Saint create a wonderfully stunning story.

There were times I cheered, times my heart raced in fear and stress, and times I smiled to see heartwarming moments spring out when I least expected them. I loved the surprises, and I love how the author was able to create a visually stunning atmosphere to bring us all to the equally impressive and perfect ending.

I do not know how the third book could ever be better then this one, but somehow I know it will be, and I cannot wait to find out!

An awesome fantasy, action packed, historical fiction all-in-one superstar of a novel.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this awesome ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/16/21.

I instantly fell in love with Fabel in the first book and couldn't wait to read about the conclusion of her journey. Fabel was such a gripping tale, that I devoured it in one sitting and the same was true for Namesake. I have to say that Fabel is one of my most favorite characters and I loved seeing her develop. I wasn't sure what to expect in this second installment, but Young's storytelling was impeccable. She made the sea feel like home. I honestly wanted to start my own crew after I finished the book. This story tugs on the heartstrings and has a beautiful message of love. This is a must read.

There are some things that can't be carved from a person, no matter how far from home they've sailed.</b>

Namesake picked up right where Fable left off. Nail biting and fast page turning just as in the first. You splash right into the depths of the Narrows but with even more at stake. Just with Fable, Young transported me to the wooden decks with the salty sea air and I was immediately immersed with the story.

I didn't love this book as much as I did the first. Maybe because we left the water and spent more time at port; but I did enjoy learning more of history and the ghosts that haunt not only our main character but all of the crew. Pasts collide and the life of the Marigold is awaiting the gallows.

That said, and without spoiling anything, I still really enjoyed the sequel in this duology and I highly recommend it for those that love sea-faring books and a band of mischiefs.

** I received an eARC from NetGalley / Wednesday Books in exchange of an honest review. **

Fable is one of my favorite books of 2020 and Namesake is an adequate sequel. It picks up right where book one left off, full of high-sea action, adventure and antics. It steers into shocking and unexpected plot twists; definitely a page turner. I was not a fan of Young's previous works but her writing style and story telling has significantly evolved. I'm very impressed with the strong willed, stubborn and multi faceted characters. This is an engaging, uniquely vivid fantasy that I highly recommend. Thank you to #NetGalley for granting me an eARC. This is an honest review, and all opinions are my own.

This duology is like a breath of fresh air, riding on the waves of the sea. 𝐹𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 stole my heart and tucked it away beneath the deep water, nestled safe beside the gems and hidden treasures. And 𝑁𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑒 broke open my heart with a dredging chisel, unearthing even more treasure and possibilities and danger.

These books are very atmospheric to me. Life under the sea is like an entirely different world than above. To Fable, our main character, it’s her home, it’s where she feels more alive and connected to her mother. And it’s brilliant and colorful with all the gems and sea creatures. The times when Fable dives and dredges are my absolute favorite parts of these books. It feels magical and peaceful.

But it’s not always peaceful. In 𝑁𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑒, we see several times how dangerous diving can be. People trying to hurt you, a storm that threatens to keep you under.

After the ending of 𝐹𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, I was dying to read 𝑁𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑒. The ending was brutal! For the most part, I liked how things unfolded in 𝑁𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑒. And I do love how strong Fable becomes, but it almost seemed to change her a little too much. She seizes control a little too quickly and and forcefully. But I guess this happens to help show the reader how cutthroat and harsh sea life is. Along with that, it would have been nice to have more reconciliation with Fable and some other characters, because she and West had wronged them, and I just wanted to see that resolve more clearly.

My next favorite part of the novel was the familial relationships between Fable and her parents. She learned more about them and grew closer to them in different, unexpected ways. The father-daughter relationship between Fable and Saint was beautifully explored. It’s a rocky, tremulous relationship, but we see how important family ties are through these two, and that even during rough times, you can find rare gems, just waiting to be found and treasured.

West and Fable’s romance was part of the driving force that dictated both of their choices. Their love is strong, and while I didn’t always agree with what they did, I understood why they did it.

I also loved the ending. The way Fable handled what she’d been looking for was perfect. And I hope in her future, she’s able to return to it. I loved that this duology ended pretty neatly, but with a promise of more adventure in these characters lives. Adding more to this story would be welcome, but not really necessary, since I feel satisfied with how things ended

I loved these books, and I can safely say that it is my favorite duology I’ve read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an e-arc!

I loved the first one, but this one really disappointed me. I think it would have been better as a stand alone unfortunately.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Namesake is the second book in the Fable duology, and it leaves us right where the predecessor left off. There are so many surprise layers to the story! Just when you think you know what’s going on, there’s new information to throw you a curve ball. The plot is constantly gripping and fast moving with all the twists and turns it takes. The characters, both new and old, are all interesting and distinct. There were some that I would have loved to see more of, and found the snippets of their backstories to be very alluring.
I feel that Fable is a realistic protagonist with her strong and vulnerable emotions of a young girl who lost her mother, and was abandoned by her father. In this book, there is even more vulnerability and family issues that Fable must cope with. We see the growth of her character as she seeks closure from her past, and tries to focus on the future she wants. Her single minded goal of survival, and finding her father in the first book has broadened with all the surprises that occur in Namesake, and it was lovely to read.
I truly loved the world that Adrienne Young created with this series! Namesake kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and the ending was very surprising and satisfying. I wouldn’t have guessed it at all when I first opened the book!

I really enjoyed the first book in this duology, Fable, so when I saw that NetGalley had a copy of the sequel for immediate review, I dropped everything to read it. Fable had everything I wanted in a YA fantasy; adventure, an unapologetic heroine, and a swoon worthy love interest. It was one of my favourite reads of 2020 and I have to say, Namesake did not disappoint.

Every page of the novel immersed you into a perfectly crafted world of intrigue, power playing and betrayal. I felt like I was right there sailing the seas along with Fable.

The second book picks up exactly where the first book left off. Without giving the plot of the first book away, Namesake does a great job of further exploring the prominent themes of the first novel, family, love and betrayal. My only comment would be that I thought the "villains" could maybe be slightly more villainous? I didn't really understand through Fable's interactions with Saint or retellings or his antics from other characters, how Holland was the more horrid choice to align with. Obviously Holland was a manipulative, self-serving character, but If Fable wasn't Saint's daughter would Fable still think the same of Holland?

Overall, this was the perfect ending to a fun and enjoyable series.

Wow, this was 'keep you up way past your bedtime' good. Seriously. I stayed up until 2am to finish Namesake because I could not put it down. Like Fable, I was captivated from the very opening line. I loved getting to explore for of the world as well as the depth of Fable's relationships. She is a fantastic heroine full of grit and hope. Fable & Namesake have rocketed their way to my favorite books and will forever hold a special place in my heart. Overall, Namesake was a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to an incredible story.

Adrienne Young just keeps getting better and better. I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

If you loved Fable, you will abolsutly fall in love with Namesake. PREORDER IT NOW!

Full review will be live on www.readandwander.com within 30 days of publication.

I feel like I'm missing something with how much everyone else seems to love these books and how much I... don't. Fable was meh, but engaging and interesting. But this sequel just felt like a lot of things happening without any reason or explanation. All the things I wanted to see in the second book based on the events of the first book just didn't happen, and that was frustrating. There wasn't a lot going on in this book, and Fable and West's relationship felt very flat in this book. They were just going around in circles and West was kind of very dumb in this book with all the decisions he made.

The connection to Holland was interesting, but could have been handled a lot better. And then the whole thing with Saint was... ugh. I just don't like the awful parental figure coming in at the end and being all, I loved you all along! I wanted to know more about the Marigold crew in both the first book and then in this one, and we just don't get a lot of that. I wanted to actually feel like Fable was a part of the crew, but she just felt like an outsider, like we didn't get enough time for any relationships to form.

I just didn't feel anything for Fable or the other characters or her bonds with any of them. I felt like her relationship with West deepened too quickly, and it just felt very strange in this second book. I wasn't sure what the point of the whole "he has a dark side you don't know about" thing was about since it didn't affect the way Fable felt about him in the slightest.

There was just something essential missing from this book and it left me wanting. The first book was less than I was expecting, but still a decent read, but this sequel just completely missed the mark and didn't deliver anything I needed from it. It felt highly unnecessary and I reaffirm my opinion from my review for the first book that it should have just been a standalone.

What a beautiful book.
It takes place immediately after Fable ends. This book was well thought out, and had twist and turns around every corner. The relationship between West and Fable continues, with some ups and downs. Let me say, West is a GOOD man. He is always thinking about others, and the way he cares for Fable, what he does, wow.
Fable continues to grow, making some mistakes along the way as she pieces together her mother's death and her father's alleged abandonment.
The crew is fun and loveable and mostly REAL. I loved the emotion, the turmoil was palatable.
I'm so happy that they brought back an unexpected character too!
You learn more about Isolde in this book and the mysteries she carried even into death.
I'm sad this is over and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to read Namesake ahead of time. Thank you NetGalley for the eArc!

Thank you so much NetGalley and MacMillan Publishing for providing me with the E-arc for Namesake!
I was shocked to bits to get access to this sequel so early, having only finished & fallen in love with Fable and West just last month!
There is definitely no second book feeling about this sequel to Fable! From the start it kicks off where Fable ended. Fable has been kidnapped & dropped into the middle of more politics, shenanigans and daring, and dastardly adventures!
Zola continues on with his own selfish agenda forcing Fable into dredging for him and as a consequence pulling the Marigold, West and her crew into the adventure!
I’m not going to ruin this for you, but I can promise if you loved Fable then you’ll love Namesake even more!

The Fable duology is hands down Adrienne Young's best books to date. Not only is the writing beautiful, but Fable and the Marigold crew are some of the most genuine, likable characters that I've had the pleasure of reading about. I didn't want it to end.

I had to pick this up as soon as I finished Fable. Namesake is a stellar sequel. Picking up right from the cliffhanger, this book explores more of the world created in Fable. We get to see more interactions between West and Fable which I loved. Some new characters are introduced and once again the crew of the Marigold finds themselves fighting and plotting for their freedom. I really enjoyed the writing style of this book. It's very easy to lose yourself in the story. It is just as good a book as Fable. I actually think I liked this one better. The only thing I disliked was that sometimes Fable and West's actions were not very smart. Also, without being too spoilery, Fable was somewhat of a bystander in the resolution of the major conflict. Despite that, this book was very enjoyable and I would recommend for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean and Six of Crows.

This is the perfect follow-up to FABLE. The stakes are higher, the characters are more committed to one another, and the world expands in exciting and interesting ways. While this duology has so much to love (romance, found family, adventure, mystery), what really shines is the complicated father-daughter relationship. This story will stay with me for a very long time.

This duology is spectacular. In Namesake we find Fable kidnapped by Zola with no idea if anyone would come rescue her. To top it off she learns Clove, who was basically family to her, is now working for Zola. Oh and Koy has been added to the crew. She has no idea where they’re going or what Zola wants with her. And that’s where the fun begins. I love that Fable basically never knows what’s going on. Poor girl has been abandoned and had so many secrets kept from her she can’t trust anyone and has to ply detective to make any decision. The schemes and double agents and plans gone awry are what makes these books so much fun. The darkness of survival is still front and center along with Fable and West’s hopes and promises for a better life. They’re stil dredging for gems and dredging up Fables past. If you enjoyed Fable I definitely don’t think this will disappoint. This review was in exchange for a free ARC on NetGalley

“Never, under any circumstances, reveal who or what matters to you.”

One of Saints rules that Fable lives by, but then everyone just throws out to sea in an instant. This whole book hinges on all the characters looking for revenge after someone is taken from them.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to those who enjoyed Fable, however, I did find it lacking the same magic.

The story didn’t seem to know where it wanted to go and could not pick a villain. The first half of the book carries the feel of Fable, but it then seems to shift and lose its way. The plot twists seem more of an after thought to try and keep momentum, rather than planned out events. The pacing was off, with all the “resolutions” happening far too quickly in the very end of the story.

The characters became stagnant as Fable's ideas and concerns were the only ones that mattered. I did not feel growth between West and Fable in their relationship. He states he loves her a few times, which she doesn’t seem to repeat back, but we never got the chance to see and experience their attraction beyond just the words since most of their time is spend apart. The rest of the crew gets few moments to shine, but even then, we don’t learn anything new about them. The characters that are introduced have singular defining traits and I did not feel invested in anything they did or how they effected the story.

I'm so glad I got to read Namesake as soon as I finished Fable because I hate cliffhangers and I needed to know what happened. *bites fingernails*
This is great world building and storytelling. I love a strong female heroine and Fable is complicated and relatable.
I read this book in one day with a big smile on my face the entire time. I can't wait to get all my high school students hooked on the series. I really think that the students who love Six of Crows will thoroughly enjoy Fable and Namesake.
Thanks to Netgalley for an e-arc of this book

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Namesake is the sequel to Fable, and it did not disappoint! The story in Namesake follows Fable through her seafaring, where she gets caught up in vengeful schemes. She’s desperately longing to be free of her father, enough to join her old crew on the Marigold and go on with her life. Throughout all of this, you learn just how strong Fable is as well as how vulnerable she can be.

This book was set up in a way that I appreciated so much. It was a direct continuation from the end of Fable and immediately set us up with a new plot. It’s a pirate book, so most of the plot is backstabbing, but I can appreciate that. In comparison to the prequel, Namesake really expanded on Fable’s relationship with her father and left me in tears. I love how Adrienne portrayed their relationship. I appreciated her relationship with West in this book as well, and how they wanted to protect each other but they just kept lying and making a mess of things.

My biggest complaint about Namesake is that there were problems that could’ve been solved with the use of healthy conversation, but with a lot of YA, in general, there is never any healthy communication! I’m harking back to Divergent, The Hunger Games, and even parts of Court of Thorns and Roses, The Winner's Curse, The Jewel, there are so many fantastic books out there with two characters who are in a relationship but do not communicate. I've read so many of these books that I'm over this trope of there being no communication, just a bunch of lying between two people who are supposed to be in a relationship. We need to teach our teenagers that this is not how this is supposed to go. There were just some stylistic choices with the characters that I think could have been done better.

I think Namesake overall was a very strong book with great plot points. It keeps you on your toes. You never quite know understood where we were going because there's so much scheming going on that you feel like you're part of the schemes but that you also have no idea what's actually happening because every time you get to corner it veers off left or right in a direction that you can't even begin to expect. Even as a standalone, Namesake is really good.
I did receive both Fable and Namesake ARCs and got to enjoy them back to back. In Namesake, there are some moments of violence but I still think this is a pretty good High School read. There’s important representation in the story, important family tropes, definitely a lot to discuss about family. One of the most important aspects of this book is the way Adrienne explores the meaning and the complexity of family. I really appreciate having the opportunity to read this duology and I would highly recommend it to a lot of people, especially people who like pirate stories. But I truly enjoyed Namesake, as well as Fable, and if Adrienne decides to revisit this world I will be back in a heartbeat.

An absolute perfect ending to a perfect duology. It had plenty of twists to keep you interested.

I loved the new characters as well.

Just as amazing as Fable, I’m so sad this story is ending. I feel there is so much more that could be done with this world...fingers crossed. I would LOVE side stories.

(As an aside: I do feel as though some of this could’ve been cut to make for one longer, one book story. There wasn’t much new world-building material to work with. Nor much character development to worry about.) But still, just incredible. AY is a genius.